Geek out at Butlins
With an eye-catching, tile-floored, steel and glass lobby, it’s a great first impression – and easy to see why celebs head to this hotel in Northern Ireland’s capital. My sister and I arrived off our early flight and were able to check in ahead of time, meaning we could freshen up before I set off to explore.
THE NEIGHBOURHOOD
You’re in a great location in central Belfast. The Grand Opera House is next door and many landmarks, including City Hall, are a short stroll away. We loved nosing around trendy Saint Anne’s Square, with its cool restaurants, and The Mac arts centre. The Victoria Square, an indoor/outdoor mall, is a must for shopaholics.
THE ROOM
Our corner guest room was huge, with a rolltop bath and Nespresso coffee machine. We loved the floor-to-ceiling windows and the bright colourful decor. The hotel has 130 rooms, six suites and a twobedroom penthouse. The Fitzwilliam has an amazing restaurant in a trendy setting, which would please the most serious foodie. It clearly has a local following, too, and is not just for hotel guests, which made for a great atmosphere. I loved my sous vide compressed melon and feta with apple mint dressing starter, which was followed by lemon and smoked garlic chicken. It’s worth sampling a tasty cocktail in the funky downstairs bar too.
THE SERVICE
The staff were super-friendly, from the doormen who greeted us to the receptionists and restaurant and bar staff.
LOVED
The warmth of the welcome, the stylish decor and the reasonable rates for such a high-end hotel.
HATED
Our one night visit was all too short.
BOTTOM LINE
Enjoy a Thank Fitz It’s Friday package, which includes overnight stay in an executive king room, complimentary cocktail on arrival and a full Fitzwilliam breakfast, from £130. Game of Thrones fans will love the Fitz & Thrones, including an All Aboard For Westeros day tour of key locations from the hit series, from £215 per night.
CHECK IT OUT THE FOOD
fitzwilliamhotelbelfast.com, 028 9044 2080 BAG a bargain at Butlins, which is offering a thr ee-night Astonishing Family Science Weekend from only £59pp. The self-catering deal for a family of four shaves a fifth off the price for stays at its Minehead resort in Somerset from September 16. There are bubble experiments, Science Museum workshops and hands-on messy fun to inspire kids aged six to 14.Visit butlins.com/science. THE pound plummeted against the euro after the Brexit vote – but if you want a hot bargain, break out of the eurozone and make your pennies go further. ESCAPE: Stylish Senses Hotel on the glitzy island of Hvar has had a £5million summer refurb – and is celebrating by offering seven nights for the price of five.
Tucked in a pine wood, it’s a short stroll to stunning Vrboska, an old fishing village, and a five-minute walk to the nearest shingle and pebble beach. Hvar Town is 35 minutes away by bus and Jelsa Town and Stari Grad, the country’s oldest town, are within easy reach. THE DEAL: Get two nights free on a week-long B&B stay, costing from £514pp, with flights from Gatwick to Split on September 22 plus transfers or from £544pp from Bristol. BOOK: prestigeholidays.co.uk, 01425 480400 ESCAPE: Sun-seekers should head for the capital of the United Arab Emirates, where rays are guaranteed. There, you can check in to Yas Viceroy, set half on land, half on water.
With 11 restaurants and bars, the only dilemma will be where to eat. Overlooking Yas Marina and Yas Marina Circuit, home of the Formula One Grand Prix, the five-star hotel is a great base. Children and big kids will love Yas Waterworld, with its 43 rides and slides. THE DEAL: A three-night B&B break this month with Emirates Holidays costs from £559pp, including return flights with Emirates from Gatwick and complimentary tickets to Yas Waterworld and Ferrari World. BOOK: emiratesholidays.co.uk, 020 8972 8949 ESCAPE: No surprise some of the best bargain breaks are to Turkey. But even following recent events, Foreign Office advice still states most of the country is safe, including popular resorts on the southern Mediterranean coast (see gov.uk/ foreign-travel-advice for updates).
In Antalya, the resort of Sentido Letoonia – 400 miles south of Istanbul and near the town of Belek – is known for its thermal spas, beaches and golf courses. The four-star hotel has a golf centre and six pools with watersports, along with a spa and kids’ club. THE DEAL: Seven nights’ all-inclusive at the Sentido Letoonia with Thomas Cook start at £425pp, including flights departing Newcastle on September 21. BOOK: thomascook.com, 0844 412 5970 ESCAPE: If you’re on a tight budget, make a break for this Balkan country and stay all-inclusive at the Hotel Dunav. This friendly four-star hotel is on Sunny Beach in the Burgas area, a popular Black Sea destination.
It’s a 300m walk to the beach and kids can enjoy more fun in the water at two aqua parks close by. For culture vultures, the town of Nesebar, some 3,000 years old and a Unesco World Heritage site, is three miles away. THE DEAL: Balkan Holidays has seven nights all-inclusive at the Hotel Dunav from £354pp, including return flights from East Midlands on September 18. BOOK: balkanholidays.co.uk, 020 7543 555 ESCAPE: For sun, sea, sand and shopping, this desert city ticks all the boxes, while its futuristic architecture, from the 830m Burj KhalifaK to the three man-made Palm Islands, neverne fails to impress. And you can soak up the amazingam view of Dubai’s Marina and Yacht docks whenw you stay at the Marina Byblos Hotel.
The four-star contemporary hotel has an ou outdoor rooftop swimming pool complete with a Skybar, spa, restaurants, bars, terraces an and nightclubs.
The Marina Mall is just a short stroll away or th there’s more retail therapy at the Mall of the Em Emirates and Ibn Battuta Mall – both a 15 minute drive away.
And last month saw the opening of the w world’s largest indoor theme park, IMG Worlds of Adventure, offering white-knuckle rides and fu fun attractions across four zones, along with a 12 12-screen cinema. THET DEAL: Teletext Holidays is offering savings of up to 23 per cent on a five-night B&B stay to D Dubai Marina, now starting at £423pp, with